Not for the people

Published: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 5:30 a.m. CST

To the Editor:

A couple of interesting things have happened recently. We should pay attention to these happenings.

First, there was a vote on the debt ceiling. John Boehner and the Republican Party asked for volunteers to vote for this so it could pass and provide “cover” (their words not mine) for representatives up for election in the next cycle.

It passed with our representatives, Peter Roskam and John Shimkus, voting “yes.” Because they believed it was the right thing to do? No. Because they were deemed safe in 2014 and they had substantial money in their campaign funds. Nowhere is it mentioned what is right for the American people. Just making sure people can get re-elected.

Then I open my Northwest Herald, and here is our county’s own Mike Tryon saying, “My job is not to beat up on Republicans. My job is to beat up on Democrats.” Nowhere does he say that his job is to work for the people of McHenry County. See a pattern here?

I’m a registered Republican, but I do not believe that just because my party may be in the majority that we just ignore the rest. I believe the oath they take says they will work “for the people.”

There is nothing wrong with polls. The problem is our politicians only look at the polls to get them re-elected.